Preventing Depression In Elderly People

Although depression can occur in a person of any age, elderly people are more prone to depression owing to the lifestyle transition from a more active working lifestyle to a slow retired lifestyle. The symptoms of depression that they usually face include - a persistent feeling of despair, sadness, hopelessness or emptiness in their minds, inability to enjoy the everyday activities, abnormal sleep patterns such as chronic insomnia or oversleeping, or recurring suicidal tendencies. Other common symptoms include memory lapse, confused behavior, social withdrawal, loss of appetite, and / or even hallucinations. These signs of depression must be recognized and not brushed aside as mere signs of aging.

Here is a list of activities that would help in preventing depression in elderly people.

1. Opening up and sharing one's pain or grief with others has a very soothing impact on the heart as well as the brain. So, it is advisable for the elderly to spend sometime with close friends or supportive family members and give vent to their bitter experiences. If this is not helpful, then the elderly can seek the support of professionals or any non-formal support groups that focus on helping people cope and recover from their grief.

2. Looking at the state of other less fortune beings and helping them to cope with their miseries provides one with a lot of inner satisfaction and improves the feeling of self worth. So, the elders can devote a part of their time helping other less fortune people either at the old age homes or at the orphanages or at the hospitals.

3. Regular exercise and adequate healthy food plays a very important role in preventing depression in the elderly. Elders can enroll themselves in seniors' exercise classes or join a walking/ jogging group, which will keep their mind as well as body fit.

4. Lastly, it is very important that the elders take their prescribed medicines regularly so as to minimize the side effects, which might even include certain signs of depression.

Using a TENS Machine to Fight the Negative Feelings of Depression

First of all, I'm not a doctor or therapist. I just have spent most of my life learning from them, to undo the effects of major depression that I've had from childhood. If you suffer from depression, first talk to your medical professional to see what approach is best for you. That is what I've done, but I add to what I've learned by trying a few other things on my own. Don't do anything to yourself that is potentially self-injurious, it pays to research any new technique or approach thoroughly, just to be safe. Whatever works for me may not work for you, we all have our own ways of responding to different treatments. I just know that not all my recovery has come from what was learned at the doctor's office. Being exceptionally strong-willed, my mission has mainly been to boost self-esteem, and fight those inner feelings of sadness that never go away (effects of depression.) Here are some ways that have helped me live a productive and successful life, despite mental challenges.

Six months ago, it was necessary for me to go for physical therapy for a slipped disk in my back. The therapist hooked me up to a small machine called a TENS unit, for one of my treatments. They put small, non-invasive sticky circles (electrodes) on the part of my body needing therapy and then turned the machine on. It felt really good, sort of like a massage. Depending upon how the therapist adjusted the dials, the machine would make knocking or pinging sensations on my back. There are also knobs to adjust the intensity of each sensation. After researching the TENS unit on the internet, I ordered a small one, about the size of a deck of playing cards.

According to what I read about them, TENS machines are not only good for distracting your body into feeling good sensations rather than pain, but they can make your body produce endorphins, or feel-good chemicals, too. This intrigued me, since having depression, I'll take all the feel-good anything I can get (as long as it is both moral and legal.) So, I set up to test this on myself and see if there was any merit to the theory. After years of taking various anti-depressants, some work more than others but none completely take away depression, in my experience. Not being a scientist or doctor, I read up on everything about the TENS machine. There are rules that come along with the machine, like not putting the electrodes on the head, neck or the heart areas. Make sure to follow all of them thoroughly. People with pacemakers should not use TENS units, because it can interfere with the way they work. As with medicines, ask your doctor before using one.

By placing the electrodes along my spine, and setting the TENS settings to the recommended low frequency (pulse) levels. You want low muscle contraction, and to use the TENS for approximately 20 to 40 minutes. If you set it for higher muscle contractions, your muscles may ache later, so I rely on what the experts say, to use it at low settings. For more detailed information, I found these sites helpful:

http://www.bootsmaternityrentalproducts.co.uk/abouttens.php
http://www.medcareservice.com/Pain-Control-Mechanism-Article.cfm

Using the TENS unit has helped my overall mood, it seems, as after using it, my demeanor is calm and relaxed. Though I don't know if this is due to the machine itself or not, but I believe that using it has helped me. Combined with other treatments, this TENS therapy is assisting me (along with other techniques for reducing depression) in making a more enjoyable life. Go ahead and research TENS units online, and see if this is something suitable for you. In my point of view, it is a viable way to help combat depression.

Factors Affecting Depression

Some people are more prone to suffer from depression easily because of their own biological structure. This brings greater suffering to those affected than those who do not have these dangerous factors. There are four major biological factors that maximize possibility of depression to a person. These include biochemical factors, genetic factors, sleep irregularities and alterations in hormonal flow.

Biochemical Factors

The brain consists of billions of neurons. It is also a highly complicated organ. There are many proofs telling that depression is a chemical or biological disorder. This is where the central nervous system neurotransmitter irregularities are likely the reason of clinical depression.

Moreover, these neurotransmitter irregularities can be the outcome of environmental or inherited factors or other medical conditions like hypothyroidism, cerebral infarction, AIDS, or substance mistreatment.

The brain's specific neurotransmitters are thought to be associated with mood altered parts. It was first believed that the two major neurotransmitters included were norepinephrine and serotonin.

Recent studies show that depression is a result of the malfunctioning of various neurotransmitter systems together with norepinephrine and serotonin. Furthermore, the acetylcholine, dopamine, and GABA systems are also part of the pathophysiology of main depression.

Genetic Factors

Examinations tested with twins have presented that genetic factors perform a part in the growth of depressive disorders. The average rate of split mood problems among identical twins is 45 percent to 60 percent according to a large number of examinations conducted.

Therefore, when one half of the twin experiences depression or any other mood swing, there is a 45 percent to 60 percent possibility that the other will also suffer. However, dissimilar issue may happen in the fraternal twins where the percentage falls severely to only 12 percent.

Mood swings are hereditary for some. This also justifies that those who are genetically subject to mood swings may have an earlier age of inception. It increases the chances of getting other disorders and become more prone to frequent sicknesses. However, any visible genetic factors should coordinate with environmental factors for the improvement of depression.

Sleep Irregularities

Sleep electroencephalogram irregularities can be proven in 40 percent to 60 percent of outpatients and up to 90 percent of inpatients during the main depressive occurrence. People have depression tend to experience a slow delta wave sleep, pre-mature absence of sleep, and altered fast eye movement latency.

The state of fast eye movement sleep together with dreaming happens in two thirds of people with bipolar and main depressive sickness. This is the decreased fast eye movement latency. This is also fixed with the expected appearance of an inherited characteristic.

Decreased fast eye movement latency and shortages in slow-wave sleep basically continue following recovery from a depressed situation. Data also recommended that depressed patients without this notice are not subject to respond to healing with tricyclic antidepressants. This contains early fast eye movement sleep.

Alterations in Hormonal Flow

Hormones act a responsibility in depression according to the inconclusive proof. The recent research about neuroendocrine characteristics related to depression has been hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortical access.

The proof of intensified cortisol secretion is obvious in 20 percent to 40 percent of depressed outpatients and 40 percent to 60 percent of depressed inpatients. Additionally, outcome of a dexamethasone suppression examinations are irregular in about 50 percent of patients with depression. This refers to the hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal cortical axis.

Therefore, the result of this examination can also be irregular in people with obsessive-compulsive abnormalities and other medical states. More importantly, patients with psychotic main depression are among those with the highest scales of cortisol's nonsuppression on the dexamethasone suppression examination.

Bipolar Disorder Checklist - I Think I Might Be Bipolar

Bipolar disorder can be a challenging thing to spot, because it contains both depressive and manic symptoms. This article will explore common symptoms to help those that think they may have it learn more.

Bipolar disorder consists of both manic and depressive states. Please note, you could have one most of the time, and experience the other only occasionally, and you would still be considered to have Bipolar.

A manic or state of mania typically consists of:

An elevated mood
Decreased need for sleep
Sudden weight loss
Impulsive
Reckless
Poor concentration

Reading over those symptoms, you may think to yourself, everyone experiences those at one time or another and you are right. To be considered a clinical manic state, the symptoms need to be more severe.

A depressed state typically consists of:

A depressed mood
Sleeping too much
Loss of interest
Decreased motivation
No desire to be social

This general overview of the symptoms is certainly not extensive, and is only meant to give you an idea of what to look for. Again I want to stress that in order to meet a clinical depressed state, you need to be experiencing this to a degree that it is having a negative impairment on your life. For example, a depressed state could hold you back from getting to work. Another example would be if it would start to impact your marriage, or the relationships of those around you in a negative fashion.

If you feel that you might be bipolar, and have seen symptoms that have been having a negative impact on your life, I would encourage you to seek professional help. Bipolar disorder is very treatable, there is hope!

6 Depression Busters

Most of us have been there, and sometimes without warning. Depression typically attacks those who have suffered a loss, physical and mental abuse, have low self-esteem or are experiencing a lack of fulfillment. The degrees in the severity of depression vary from bouts of mild depression extending to more severe, medical conditions such as bi-polar disorder.

For the milder bouts of depression, it is much simpler to find higher ground than it is for a person who is suffering from a more serious condition.

Although triggered by our own thought processes, depression often throws us into an emotional vacuum that affects our ability to reason and therefore can be very debilitating. The common approach to treating depression is therapy and prescribed drugs such as anti-depressants. Having suffered bouts of depression in my younger years, which ranged in severity, I am speaking from experience when I say that taking medication to manage depression is equivalent to having surgery to lose weight. The root of the problem is not being addressed. If we do not take action by seeking to educate ourselves about how to gain control of our thoughts and change our thought processes, the effects of depression will continue to repeatedly present themselves, along with the undesirable side-effects of taking medications.

Below are six natural methods that can be used to relieve the symptoms of depression. Understanding that there is a lot of difficulty in taking action while in a depressed state, it is important to incorporate these actions into daily life as more of a preventative measure rather than waiting until depression strikes. Either way, always seek higher ground, beginning with the next highest thought and move from that point to the next. Do not try to reach the top of the mountain in a single jump because it will usually result in frustration, leading to a deeper depression. Just take it one step, one thought, at a time.

1. Read, listen to and/or watch empowering material such as personal development books, audios and videos. Make this a daily habit. It is important to explore and learn about yourself and how you process thoughts and why. Once you discover how to become conscious of your own thoughts, you can then begin to learn how to control them. This won't happen overnight, but like everything else there has to be a starting point so why wait? Start today.

2. A healthy diet and exercise play a key role in not only your physical wellness, but your mental wellness. No new news here. Natural foods are full of nutrients and vitamins that promote both physical and mental health, thus warding off depression. Stay clear of foods that are high in sugar. Not only do they have negative effects on the body, but high doses of sugar contribute to mood swings and disorders. Remember the Twinkie defense?

3. Action is life's keyword, both mentally and physically. When we exercise, our body produces hormones and other chemicals that relieve pain, reduce stress, enhance the immune system and relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety. There are several other benefits to exercise and if you are one of my regular readers, you know that I promote exercise in nearly every article. Why? Because I am a huge advocate of healthy mind, healthy body - and visa versa. Even a brisk walk can change your entire outlook.

4. It's short and simple - get out of your head and start a project. Write a poem, paint a picture, build a house - do anything positive or productive that will shift your focus from you to it.

5. Find a reason to laugh. I personally love to watch comedy clips. You can also read comics, make faces in the mirror - whatever tickles your funny bone. Have you ever experienced one of those hysterically funny moments that when you thought about it at a later date it made you laugh again as if it had just happened? Collect as many of those moments as you can so you can pull from the memory file when needed. Laugh often - it's life's miracle cure. Seriously.

6. Meditation is a mandatory part of my life and I strongly recommend it to my clients and others. I've had many people tell me that they don't have the time or patience to meditate or they wouldn't know where to begin. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be a spiritual guru to understand and learn meditation. There are several beginners guides, online and otherwise, that will guide you through the process. It's very simple and as you continue to practice meditation, you will wonder how you ever got along without it. You can start with ten minutes or less (I recommend five minutes for newbies) and then gradually work your way up from there. My own meditations last approximately 30 minutes. Surely, you can afford to spend 30 minutes a day toward your own wellness. Meditation not will not only prevent bouts of depression, but will enhance your well-being on every level.

Life isn't always easy and I'm not sure it was meant to be. What I do know is we don't have to live it in a place of misery, struggle and despair. We have the ability and the power to transform our lives both physically and mentally. We are not helpless victims. It really is just a matter of taking action and you can start by taking the first step. What is the first step? Begin educating yourself, about yourself. Only you hold the power to change and heal your best friend - you.

Manic Depression Symptoms

Manic Depression manifests itself mainly through behavioral and mood symptoms that can be classified into two opposite sets. One set involves symptoms of a very elated, or "high," state, while the opposite set involves a very depressed or "low" state. These two symptom sets demonstrate themselves in a continuous range, classified by experts into mild to moderate to severe, in both opposing symptom sets.

The National Institute of Mental Health lists many of the symptoms of Manic Depression. Many of them are mood symptoms, while others involve physical abnormalities and psychological instabilities. The following are some of the more commonly identified symptoms associated with the manic ("high") phase.

Mood changes during a manic phase

An individual suffering from a manic phase almost always feels excessively good, and maintains an unusually euphoric mood. These individuals often find themselves talking and thinking very quickly, sometimes jumping from one thought to the next. This behavior is noticeably different from the individual's normal disposition, and lasts for an abnormally long time.

Sufferers may also feel very irritable, and may result in provocative, aggressive, or intrusive behavior. They may deny that anything is wrong with them, and may even accuse others of conspiring against them. They basically believe that they are invincible and powerful, even to the point of absurdity.

Physical changes during a manic phase

Individuals suffering from a manic phase generally feel restless and excitable, and may display levels of energy unusual to the person. They often engage in activity, no matter what it might be, and may quickly tire and look for other things to do.

These individuals may also need little sleep to maintain their energy levels during the day. A heightened interest and drive towards sexual relations may also be evident.

Psychological changes during a manic phase

Sufferers are easily distracted, preventing them from working or learning effectively. They also exhibit reduced judgment skills, which may result in spending sprees and substance abuse. Some individuals have been noted to resort to cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medication abuse while in a manic phase.

Conversely, the depressive ("low") phase displays symptoms that are polar opposites from the ones enumerated above, although they can fall into the same rough categories:

Mood changes during a depressive phase

In contrast to a manic phase, a depressive phase causes an individual to suddenly feel hopeless and pessimistic. The sufferer may also feel unexplained pangs of guilt and worthlessness. It is a sad, scared, or otherwise empty mood that lasts for a time.

Physical changes during a depressive phase

A person going through a major depressive phase almost always feels tired or being "slowed down." The individual loses sleep (or the opposite, gets too much), as well as any interest he/she used to have for activities normally enjoyed, even sex.

The individual also suffers changes in appetite, often resulting in unintended gain or loss of weight. Pain and other persistent physical symptoms may also accompany the general discomfort of a depressive phase, even though there is no sign of any underlying illness or injury to cause it.

Psychological changes during a depressive phase

Individuals suffering from a depressive phases suffer from difficulty in concentrating, memory, and decision-making. They are also restless and irritable, and may lead to conflicts with co-workers and peers. This is also a symptom of the manic phase, effectively making sufferers very unfit to work during an episode.

The most serious psychological symptom involves thoughts of death or suicide. Sufferers of Manic Depression have committed suicide before, making the mental disorder a very serious social problem as well.

More manic depression symptoms [http://www.bipolardepressionsymptom.org/bipolar-disorder-articles/manic-depression-symptoms.asp] are examined at this link.

Bipolar Disorder - When Moody Is Actually Manic

Human beings are variable by nature. Life is inconsistent and we respond accordingly. Highs and lows are par for the course. However, we are all different, in our genetics, in our experiences, in our brain chemistry, so too are we different in the way we react to life's changing rhythms.

You can probably identify someone in your life who is unfailingly even-keel. This person seems to remain eternally steady in every circumstance, if mood is on a scale from 1-10, they are pretty much always hovering around a 5. This person might be described as having a "flat" affect, they are by no means the life of the party. By contrast, you can most likely also identify someone in your life who is constantly at the mercy of their every mood. This person spends a great deal of time ping-ponging between 1 and 10, with very little time spent mid-scale. This person might be described as a drama king/queen, they are intense and most likely draining to be around. If we look at these two people as the opposing ends of a spectrum, we can begin to see how the many variations of mood can manifest.

Most people find themselves somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. Their mood would look like a series of hills and valleys if plotted as a line graph, perhaps with a few mountains and the occasional canyon. When canyons and mountains or a perpetual plateau becomes the norm, it is time to evaluate whether there might be a mood disorder at play. In this article, we will be specifically exploring the mountain and canyon phenomenon better known as Bipolar Disorder.

The defining feature of Bipolar I Disorder is the Manic Episode. The occurrence of one or more Manic or Mixed Episodes distinguishes bipolarity from depressive and other disorders. These episodes are defined as follows by the DSM-IV-TR, the standard diagnostic manual for mental health professionals.

Manic Episode:

A period of one week (or less if hospitalization is required or psychotic features are included) or longer in which the prevailing mood is abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable and during which at least three characteristic symptoms are present and cause marked impairment in functioning, require hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or include psychotic features. Characteristic symptoms are inflated self-esteem or grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, increased talkativeness, flight of ideas, distractibility, increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation, excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high risk for undesirable consequences.

Mixed Episode:

A Mixed Episode lasts for at least one week and involves symptoms that meet the criteria for both Manic and Major Depressive Episodes. The disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in functioning, require hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or includes psychotic symptoms.

Manic Episodes are serious business. They dramatically disrupt a person's life and the lives of those around them. The key here is defining "marked impairment in functioning". When an episode leads to hospitalization, an arrest, a suicide/homicide attempt, it is fairly obvious to conclude that functioning has been markedly impaired. However, the consequences of mania can be more subtle and difficult to distinguish. Many times, mania is experienced as a pleasurable state (irritability is also possible and is often the result of the person's wishes being denied). The elevated mood can feel like a state of euphoria, causing the person to think they are doing great, better than great. This makes Manic Episodes particularly dangerous, as they often include unsafe behavior yet rarely cause the sufferer to seek treatment since they experience this state as pleasurable. Less overt indications of the occurrence of a Manic Episode include:

• Increased substance use


• Increased sexual behavior


• Unrestrained spending, making large, impractical purchases or engaging in foolish business investments


• Indiscriminate enthusiasm


• Increased energy despite a decrease in actual sleep


• Embarking on unusual projects, i.e. building a house with no knowledge of construction


• Excessive talking without regard for others, often accompanied by a theatrical presentation and abrupt changes in topic


• Distractibility, an inability to differentiate between relevant and irrelevant stimuli


• Increased sociability, to the point of being intrusive or domineering


• Excessive planning and participation in multiple activities


• Physical agitation or restlessness


• Reckless driving


• Impulsive travel


• Change in personal appearance, usually toward a more flamboyant or seductive appearance


• Lack of regard for ethical concerns


• Gambling


• Antisocial behaviors such as assault, physical threat, or hostility towards others


• Sharpened sense of smell, sight, or hearing

A person experiencing a Manic Episode most likely does not have awareness of the change in their behavior and affect. What difference they do discern they may regard as a positive change. Any negative consequences resulting from their behavior are likely perceived as happening to them, rather than being created by them. In other words, the loss of a job is seen as "my boss is just a jerk", the loss of a relationship is about "he didn't understand me", an arrest for shoplifting is explained as "they were out to get me", etc. A life that looks like a series of unending tragedies and victimizations, may actually be the catastrophic results of poor judgment exercised during intermittent Manic Episodes.

Mania can also manifest as a Mixed Episode. This means that manic symptoms and depressive symptoms are commingled with one another during the episode, causing the person to vacillate between extreme euphoria and hopeless dejection.

A third category worth mentioning is the Hypomanic Episode. This type of an episode differs from a Manic Episode in that it need only last 4 days, as opposed to one week, it cannot include delusions or hallucinations, and it is not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning or to result in hospitalization. A Hypomanic Episode is basically a milder version of a Manic Episode. This is the defining feature of Bipolar II Disorder. In order to qualify for a Bipolar II diagnosis, a person must also have experienced one or more Major Depressive Episodes. As defined by the DSM-IV-TR, a Major Depressive Episode is as follows.

Major Depressive Episode

A period of at least two weeks during which there is either depressed mood or the loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities. This must include at least four of the following: changes in appetite or weight, sleep, and psychomotor activity, decreased energy, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions, or recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation, plans, or attempts. These symptoms must cause a clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, "The only constant is change". Change is indeed the hallmark of our human existence. No one is constant in mood or in temperament, but when existence consists primarily of a violent vacillation between polar extremes, it may be an illness and not the fickle nature of life which is to blame. If you have a friend or loved one who fits this description or you are experiencing a number of these symptoms yourself, it is important to speak with a qualified professional. Assessment and diagnosis for Bipolar Disorder can be performed by a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Psychologist, or a Psychiatrist. There are a variety of highly effective treatments for Bipolar I and II Disorders. If you or someone you love is caught in a life of mountains and canyons, seek treatment and support. There is a more peaceful path awaiting you.

Depression and Thyroid Hormones

If you are tired or depressed much of the time, your doctor should order blood tests for the two thyroid hormones called T3 and T4 and for the brain hormones called TSH and prolactin. If your TSH is high and your prolactin is normal, you are probably hypothyroid and need to take thyroid hormone to give you more energy and prevent heart and blood vessel damage.

Doctors treat people with low thyroid function with thyroid pills called T4 (Levothroid, one brand name is Synthroid). Many doctors think that a person needs only T4 because the thyroid gland makes T4 and then it is converted to T3 in other tissues. However, some people become depressed when they take just T4 and their depression can be cured when they take both thyroid hormones, T3 and T4.

When a depressed patient comes to me and is taking thyroid hormone, T4, I immediately order a blood test called TSH to check if he or she is getting the correct dose. If the TSH is normal, I reduce the dose of T4 by 50% and add a very low dose of T3 (brand name, Cytomel) because it safer to prescribe too low a dose, rather than too high a dose. Overdoses cause shakiness, irritability, irregular heart beats, clots, and osteoporosis. The patient returns in one month for a blood test, TSH, to see if the total thyroid dose is correct. If the TSH is too high, the thyroid dose is too low and I raise the T3 (Cytomel) dose by 5 to 10 m5 each month until the TSH is normal. Then once a year I check TSH blood levels to make sure that the person's requirements for thyroid hormone are being met.

For example, the usual replacement dose for low thyroid function is 100 micrograms per day. If a depressed patient has a normal TSH, I reduce the T4 dose to 50 mcg/day and add 5 mcg of T3 per day. One month later, if the TSH blood is still too high I raise the T3 dose to 10 or 20 mcg and continue to increase the T3 level each month until the TSH is normal.

Exciting research shows that the thyroid hormone called T3 can help treat depression. Psychotherapy often fails to control depression. Sigmund Freud, the father of psychotherapy, proposed theories about depression, that many psychiatrists do not accept because his writings were his opinions and not presented as scientific data supported by controlled experiments. The dominant theory today is that depression is caused by low brain levels of the neurotransmitters, serotonin and norepinephrine.

The drugs such as Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft that treat depression are supposed to raise brain levels of these neurotransmitters. Doctors can also raise brain levels of serotonin by prescribing pills containing T3, a hormone produced by peripheral tissue from T4, which is produced by the thyroid gland. They also prescribe T3 by itself or together with antidepressants. Depression is common among people who have too much or too little thyroid hormone. Doctors usually treat low thyroid function with T4 also known as Levothroid and many people become even more depressed. They treat this depression by prescribing T3 as well as T4.

Try to balance T3 and T4 so you will not be taking too much thyroid and harm yourself. 1)If you now take 100 mcg of Levothroid (T4): 2) Lower T4 (Levothroid) to 50 mcg and add Cytomel (T3) 5 mcg each day. 3) One month later, have your doctor draw blood for TSH. 4) If it is normal, you are on the correct dose and should get blood tests TSH once a year. 5) If TSH is too high, increase Cytomel to 10 mcg and hold Levothroid at 50. 6) Draw monthly TSH until it is normal. Keep on raising Cytomel by 5 mcg until TSH is normal.

Inspiring Success Stories: The Woman Behind Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a seven book children's series that has sold over 450 million copies, making it the most successful book series in all of history. In addition to being translated into over 67 languages, the books spawned eight movies, which also became the highest-grossing film series of all time. The intricate stories, which chronicle the trials and tribulations of a young wizard and his friends, have also inspired a successful brand, estimated to be worth $15 billion.

Behind all of the fame and fortune that Harry Potter has garnered, is one inspiring success story: that of J.K. Rowling. Joanne Rowling was riding on a train from Manchester to London, England in 1990 when the idea for Harry Potter struck her. After getting off the train, she started to write right away. But later that year, her mother passed away after fighting a lengthy battle with multiple sclerosis. The death took its toll on her and evidence of her pain can be seen in the first book, where Harry copes with the deaths of his own parents.

Rowling's struggles were not over. She moved to Portugal after accepting a job to teach English as a second language. While there, she met and married a Portuguese television journalist, who she married and had a child with. The marriage was short-lived; Rowling gave birth to daughter Jessica in July of 1993 and the couple parted ways in November. It was then that she decided to move back to Edinburgh to be near her sister. She recalls that as a low point in her life - she was then diagnosed with clinical depression. But still, she persisted.

Ultimately, she ended up taking a postgraduate teaching course in order to give her the credentials to teach in Scotland. That was in 1995, when she had just finished the first book of the Harry Potter series. It took her a year to find a publishing company that would publish the book, still she was told to get a job - children's books didn't make any money. But, in only a matter of years, Rowling would be richer than the Queen of England herself.

The popularity of the books began to snowball. Rowling received awards for her work and gained notoriety in the United States and in her native United Kingdom. By the time the fourth book was released, it sold an impressive 373,000 copies on its first day of sales in the U.K. and a subsequent three million copies in the U.S. Rowling finished the seventh and last book of the series in early 2007. It was released some months later and sold 11 million copies on its first day in both the U.S. and the U.K.

When asked what she attributes her success to, Rowling admits that it was her lowest moments that allowed her to persist. The feeling of having "nothing to lose" was what liberated her and propelled her onward to give us one of the most inspiring success stories of all time.

Combating Depression By Building Self-Confidence

One of the main causes of depression is a lack of self-confidence. When we no longer believe in ourselves, we begin to fall into a pit of depression and anxiety. This is a Pastor's take on building self-confidence.

On one hand, we are all filled with some degree of insecurity. For most people, looking into the mirror is not a confidence booster, but is an exercise in self-deception as we try to ignore or explain away our own insecurities. When it comes to talent, skills, or ability, a lack of confidence in these areas often bring on a sense of inadequacy that can lead to depression.

Confidence in one's self is not always the easiest thing in the world to achieve. Building your own self-image can be an exercise in selfishness and egotism. After all, we do promote humility-the intentional redirecting of attention to someone else. Unless you are completely devoid of pride, even humility can make you feel inadequate as others fail to notice your own contributions. This lack of notice can even lead to further insecurities and then, again, to depression.

But confidence is not built based on your own skills, talents, and abilities. In fact, people with a very large range of talents become dependent on those talents to such a degree that they would fall apart and wallow in self-pity if those talents ever betrayed them-which they will, especially as we get older. No, self-confidence is not built on being better than others, or being self-reliant, or even having a wide range of talent or skill sets.

WHERE TRUE CONFIDENCE COMES FROM

Confidence is something you gain through a powerful knowledge of where your support is coming from as you face the challenges of life. It is what you know you can fall back on when all else fails you. It is knowing who is there to back you up when faced with heavy burdens or difficult trials.

For example, I am not a lover of American football. If you saw me, you would agree, that my physical physique does not lend itself much to doing well at football. I am too skinny. Getting hit one time ends any further participation on my part! Still, I would confidently challenge any group of people if the Green Bay Packers decided they wanted to play on my team. Knowing who is backing me up gives me tremendous confidence. My own skills may be inadequate, but confidence doesn't come because I am good or bad at football. It comes because I have a professional team backing me up! Bring them on!

Psalms 23:4- Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

This is a great Bible verse and one that is well known. The psalmist, David, writes that his confidence in facing the valley of death is not in his own strength. It lies not in his martial skills, or his ability on the harp. No, his confidence to fear no evil comes from knowing that God is with him.

Psalms 118:6- The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

Children gain confidence, not because they are necessarily more skilled or talented than other children, but because they have a tremendous support structure at home, at church, and with their peers.

I distinctly remember as a child when captains would choose from among their classmates for a team or ball game. If, for example, the best player chose me, even if I wasn't near his skill level, it always gave me a boost of confidence. It had nothing to do with my own skill; it had to do with being accepted, being loved, and knowing I have a wonderful supporting cast. But being picked last would often make you fill inadequate.

We really can't stop the above example from happening-someone must be picked last. But we can give each child a supporting role at home. My parents were my best friends growing up. I didn't have to be the best. I just needed to know that mom and dad were behind me. I took a Christian stand in a very large public High School. Several of the teachers there told me that I couldn't bring a Bible to school anymore. Worried and feeling somewhat depressed, I told dad. Dad said, "Take the Bible. If they have a problem, I'll take care of it." Well now, that changes things. I went to school just hoping someone would have a problem! Having dad behind me, knowing he was on my side, gave me tremendous confidence.

TWO THINGS TO DO

First, it is essential that you surround yourself with people who love and care for you. Without a supporting cast in life, you will find yourself lacking more and more confidence as you face the problems of life. If you feel that no one likes you or loves you, understand that no one is completely unlovable. You may need to adjust your approach. Instead of waiting for people to come to you, you go to them.

Proverbs 18:24- A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Stop waiting for people to notice you. People who love are always loved.

Secondly, get to know God like you have never known Him before. Life is hard. I don't need to tell you that. Spiritually, having a relationship with God is essential to building confidence in your life, especially as you deal with the difficulties of life.

I asked some teenagers about how they know God exists. None of them could give me a good answer, because none of them ever really had to take a real step of faith. I know God exists. I've put Him and His Word to the test many times and He always keeps His promises. I have miracle after miracle to prove it.

Knowing you have a strong relationship with your Saviour, Jesus, with the Father, and His Holy Spirit brings tremendous confidence in the face of any adversity and difficulty.

Give it a try, you'll like it.

Manic Depression Symptoms - It's Time to Start Noticing

Manic depression or also referred to as bipolar disorder is often associated with a person who often suffers from mood swings and these mood changes can happen rapidly or gradually. This condition might not seem like a serious condition, but it actually is. If left untreated it may lead to hallucinations, grandiose delusions, psychosis, or paranoid rage - and at times it may even lead to a combination of any of these. The exact cause of manic depression is still unknown, though it is believed to be caused by some genetic factors or an imbalance of chemical transmitters in the brain.

Manic depression symptoms and the levels of severity vary among sufferers, consequently the condition can be very hard to detect. People often overlook these warning signs as a normal occurrence. However, there are a few symptoms common to all sufferers. Weight loss or decreased appetite, for example, can actually be a sign of bipolar disorder. On the other hand, a person suffering from this condition may develop a habit of overeating which can cause weight gain. They also tend to feel tired easily, as if they do not enough energy to do anything at all for no particular reason.

Do not take your sleepless nights lightly because insomnia can also be a symptom of depression. A feeling of restlessness and excessive irritability are also some of the common indications. A person suffering from manic depression may feel hopeless, pessimistic, somewhat worthless, anxious, and sad most of the times. As ironic as it sounds, he or she may even feel 'empty', devoid of any kind of emotion. Things can get even worse: thoughts of death or suicide can even occur on some sufferers, which sometimes lead to suicide attempts.

Many people start showing depression symptoms in their late teens, between the ages of 18 and 24. But generally, people under the age of 30 are at greater risk for developing this condition than older people. These symptoms tend to last up to two weeks, but if left untreated they can continue for over six months.

Fortunately, manic depression is treatable. On average, it takes about 2 years for a patient to recover from this condition. Treatments include psychological therapy as well as antidepressant medications. Many people are reluctant to take antidepressants, but it is necessary to take this medication if you want to treat your depression. When the symptoms are left untreated, they might lead to suicidal behaviours. Therefore it is very important for you to notice these symptoms in yourself or people around you and seek for medical help as soon as possible.

Bipolar Disorder Causes And Symptoms

Everyone comes across a time in their lives when they feel downright low and feelings of worthlessness fill them up. With the passing of time, the "bad feelings" also go by and they come back to living their lives. However, sometimes this episode continues for a longer period of time which eventually turns into a psychological illness. One must not get confused between depression and bipolar disorder. While depression only makes you feel low, bipolar disorder, on the other hand, is characterized by extreme mood swings. It affects people from all walks of life. Their ability to fight off different bipolar disorder causes defines their fate for them. Some of its causes are -

Brain structure - Abnormal structure of the limbic region gives rise to bipolar disorder. This region plays a vital role in controlling one's emotions. In addition to that, various hormonal imbalances in the brain like low levels of norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine and serotonine trigger depression. On the other hand, when the levels are more than normal, it results in hyper or manic episodes.

Death in family - Sometimes death of a loved one also causes bipolar disorder. During that time, an individual experiences great levels of pain and despair which may result in depression. However, in the recovery stage they may relapse and be affect by the disorder.

Environmental factors - People who had grown up in an abusive household or are currently in such atmosphere are more prone to it. Environmental factors are one of the major bipolar disorder causes. Regular fights, use of foul language and insult can make a person feel high and low in a short span of time.

It is also important to know its symptoms to detect it early.

1. Irritability is one of the top symptoms. Even little things act as catalyst for your anger and one gets irritated very often.


2. They may cut off from everyone. Those affected by bipolar disorder usually seclude themselves irrespective of their former jolly nature. They do not enjoy the things that formerly gave them pleasure.


3. Very little control on their verbal speed. They tend to talk very fast sometimes skipping and mixing up words.


4. They may feel victimized, rejected or criticized. Also they feel bored and empty inside.


5. A significant amount of increase is recorded in one's sexual desires. He/she may approach others with great sexual desires.


6. One may also have grandiose thoughts about oneself.

Many causes may be responsible for an individual's illness. No fixed framework has been prepared by doctors for it. Whatever may be the cause, it needs to be treated soon since it creates rift in personal and professional relationships. Also, it emotionally drains an individual.

How Devastating Loss Teaches Us to Overcome Challenges

I'm going to share something very personal, and very painful with you. But as I reflect on my loss and life, I've realized the significant role it is playing in changing me as a person - and the lessons I am learning apply to anyone who is suffering a major disappointment or loss in their lives. This could be personal, professional, or both. I must start by thanking Jennifer Gresham for writing an article that both motivated, and inspired me to share my insight with you. I hope that sharing my story will spread hope and optimism to those suffering loss, and provide a road map to getting your life and career back on track.

Our Loss

The most devastating loss a parent can experience is the loss of a child. Our family experienced this tragedy last year when we lost our baby boy Gavin at only 10 weeks old.

Gavin was born after a healthy, uneventful pregnancy. I practiced yoga 3x a week, special ordered organic vitamins and ate a healthy, nutritious diet. But despite taking excellent care of myself, Gavin was born with a very rare brain malformation called Lissencephaly, it literally means "smooth brain". He was born extremely ill, with severe seizures and spent most of his too short life in and out of the hospital. Eventually it became clear that Gavin's quality of life was terrible, and our family made the difficult choice to allow him to naturally pass on, and finally have comfort and peace.

As I cried at the funeral, looking at his tiny coffin and watching the large group of family and friends release balloons into the blue sky, I honestly felt as though I would die from a broken heart.

One morning, as I lay in bed crying and looking at pictures of my precious child, I made a commitment to myself, to my husband, living child and extended family, to not let this life shattering loss ruin me. Change me? Yes, forever. But I decided it was not going to ruin the life that I currently had, and hang like a dark shadow over everything I do. It was time to start the hard work to deal with, and learn to live a good life, along with this tragedy.

So here is what I have learned so far, it applies to overcoming any major disappointment, failure or tragedy. I used the well known '5 Stages of Grief' to mourn my loss, but learn to live well and move forward in spite of it.

Step One - Denial

They say this step is the first because it helps you cope with a major loss. Denial helps us pace feelings of grief, and accept our loss at a rate we can handle.

As we begin to move out of this stage, into accepting the fact that the loss happened, that is when we begin to ask ourselves some very important questions. This is a time for true reflection.

For myself, I reflected long and hard on the choices we made for Gavin. I came to the conclusion that as much as it hurt to lose our child, I was also very proud of the decisions we made. During hard, stressful times, we were able to stay focused on what was best for Gavin, and fought hard to make sure he was comfortable. This terrible experience showed me an inner strength I didn't know I possessed, and that was something to be proud of.

If you have recently been laid off, downsized, or experienced any major disappointment, take the time you need to fully realize what you have been through. There is no set amount of time for this process, take all of the time you need to fully realize the extent of your loss. As you begin to accept it, reflect on why you are so upset - Why did you value that position so much? Get clear on why you wanted what you did - and you may very well find insight that eases the pain of your loss, and may even illuminate a new path for your future.

Step Two - Anger

This step is pretty clear. As the denial wears off, the anger sets in. "Why did this happen to me?"

In my case, I felt intense anger at pregnant women that did not take care of themselves and their babies. I remember watching a Dr. Phil show where a baby was born addicted to pain pills and seething with pure anger. How could she do that to her baby? Why did my baby have to die, that I took such good care of - when her baby was just fine after a few days in the NICU?!

Underneath anger is pain. The more you allow yourself to really feel it, the faster it will dissipate and you can begin to heal.

Anger can also be a huge motivator. Are you hurt, angry and upset at your former employer for promising you a bright future, then bringing in new management and letting you go with seemingly no care in the world? Use that anger as a stepping stone - use it to make you strive for more, do better and go farther.

I used my anger at Gavin's birth defect to motivate me to be the best parent possible to my older, living child. I suddenly appreciated his presence so much more, and realized what a miracle it is any time a child is born without complications. I decided I would convert my anger into energy, and pour that energy into my family, and business. To this day, anytime I feel anger about what happened to our child, I do something positive for my family or business - bake cupcakes with my child, write an article for my website, work extra hours to provide research for a client.

Use anger to your advantage. Allow yourself to deeply feel the disappointment and anger. Then use that anger and direct it towards activities that will benefit you personally, and professionally.

Step Three - Bargaining

Bargaining is your attempt to make sense of what has happened to you. Many people go through this step by thinking about what they could have done to avoid the loss happening in the first place. If you have recently lost employment, you may think, "If only I had worked longer/harder on that key project, the board would have seen my dedication to the company".

In my case, I wondered if I should have never taken Tylenol for a bad headache, or had that glass of wine before I knew I was pregnant. Of course, those are silly thoughts - Tylenol a few times, and a glass of wine at 4 weeks pregnant didn't create Gavin's Lissencephaly.. and chances are working harder on that key project wouldn't have saved the job you lost either.

I encourage you to use this step to obtain clarity about your loss. I realized I didn't cause Gavin's birth defect, and while we may never have answers about what happened, it did show me inner strength I never knew I had. Use this time to be realistic about what happened to you, let go of blame and guilt, and focus on what you can learn from the situation moving forward.

Step Four - Depression

This is the worst step in the grief process, by far. It's also totally unavoidable - but luckily, most of us do not experience it for long if we can really feel our feelings and work through them. Grief is a process of healing, and depression is one of the necessary steps along the way.

Right after Gavin died, I would take my 8 year old to school, come back home, and go to bed. I would lay in bed and cry, look at pictures of Gavin on my phone, smell his clothes and relive the moment he took his last breath in my husband's arms. This was so painful at times I honestly felt like it might be possible to die from heartache. But as time went on, I found myself spending less time crying and more time moving on with my life. To deny the depression would only prolong it, the fastest way around it, is right through it.

If you are recovering from a major disappointment or loss, don't try to avoid the painful feelings. Feel them. Accept them. If you begin to worry that this stage is taking too long, seek professional help. I did, at the advice of my counselor, begin taking an anti-depressant for the first time in my life. Sometimes we can use a little help dealing with such powerful feelings, and that is nothing to be ashamed of. So seek help if necessary, but don't avoid dealing with your emotions.

Step four is awful, but it leads to the final step, and ultimate healing - keep that in mind when you are ready to bury your emotions and never look back.

Step Five - Acceptance

Acceptance is often confused with the notion of being "all right" or "OK" with what has happened. This is not the case. Most people don't ever feel OK or all right about a major disappointment or loss. I will never be OK with the loss of my child, but I am learning to live with it.

A major sign you are approaching this step is when you start to have more good days than bad days. Maybe you will find yourself laughing out loud, and really feeling happy. Or you will feel good enough to have lunch with an old co-worker without being jealous or angry.

I knew I was accepting my loss when I was ready to throw myself back into work. Instead of dwelling on Gavin all day, I was ready to reconnect with my network and produce work I was passionate about. Many executives in transition find themselves at this step in the process when they are finally ready to actively seek new employment. That can be an overwhelming and intimidating task, especially if you have never had to actively seek a job offer.

Whatever your loss, you will know you are healing when you begin to think about the future and make plans to move forward. Remember to really use all of your reflections, pain and healing as you make your strategic plan to move forward. One of the greatest lessons grief teaches us is about ourselves, what is really important, and we can find great focus on where our life needs to head from this point on.

I just love this quote from Jennifer Gresham's blog, "You can't always be lucky. And when your heart is broken, you can't always be happy. But you can be brave. You can embrace hope like an old friend... the one who lied, the one you forgave. Keep dreaming."

What encouraging, true words. I hope sharing my experience can help those of you experiencing a major loss or disappointment in your lives. Sometimes what does not kill us, makes us stronger. I'm learning that every single day, and believe I am a better, stronger person because of it.

Life is not fair, and sometimes, it's downright unfair. But what matters is how we deal with it. Any loss is an opportunity to grow and make ourselves better.

Keep dreaming - and make those dreams happen.

Using Personal Strength to Overcome Depression

Because depressive states are considered serious illnesses, sufferers may need special attention to overcome the disease and regain their lives. In learning how to overcome depression, they will want to build an extensive support network of friends and relatives. Even during the days when they feel particularly down, they should try to engage in social activities with people who love them and care for them. In fact, interacting with others is one of the ways in which the worst of the depression symptoms can be lessened. Playing guitar, attending a sporting event, or having a picnic are all low-key activities that can help.

Physical exercise is perhaps one of the best tonics for mild to moderate depressive episodes. Because even just a bit of cardiovascular exercise can release feel-good hormones that will surge out of the brain, this is one way to elevate mood and improve outlook. Men and women who have never exercised much in their lives may find it hard to know where to start. If they fancy any particular activity and have wanted to try it for years, then they should commandeer a friend and start right away. Lovers of the outdoors can hike in the local woods at the first faint blush of dawn. Positive moods should soon follow.

Avoiding unnecessary stress is yet another way to prevent one's depression from spiraling out of control. For example, if individuals have been under undue financial strain for some time, they might want to procure some debt relief assistance. This will help them to improve their financial standing, and they will no longer remain awake at night endlessly replaying their economic problems within their own minds. If the downturn in their mood has been caused by the loss of a loved one, then they might attend counseling sessions. Reputable counselors can suggest specific techniques for avoiding negative thought patterns.

Lastly, medication can also help. Psychiatrists suggest that some people may be incapable of normal thinking without the benefit of certain medicines. These medications can reestablish proper brain chemistry, which will help pull people out of their negative states. As with most medicines, individuals should read the capsule sidebars carefully so that they can identify any potential side effects.

Because depression is a serious illness that can lead to severe mental impairment, sufferers should get help as soon as they can. With the assistance of loved ones, depressed men and women should receive professional care on a range of fronts. Social activity, exercise, and medication can all combat various symptoms of the disease.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Did You Know That Hypothyroidism Can Lead to Depression?

An underactive thyroid, also called hypothyroidism, can be caused by antidepressants. Although researchers don't understand how antidepressants suppress thyroid function, they've known for years that lithium can cause hypothyroidism and have recently implicated other antidepressants as well. Hypothyroidism can also occur on its own because of diet (for instance, inadequate minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids, amino acids, or excess carbohydrates), an immune reaction, genetic susceptibility, or from radiation treatments for an overactive thyroid.

Regardless of the cause, hypothyroidism can lead to numerous problems, including but not limited to weight gain, excessive tiredness, decreased sexual function, and brain fog-all of which can mimic anti-depressant side effects. The condition can also cause depressed moods and render antidepressants ineffective. So you may think your medication isn't working when the problem is actually caused by an inadequate level of thyroid hormones.

Many people on antidepressants who have symptoms of hypothyroidism may not have the full-blown condition that can be diagnosed using a standard blood test, which measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Instead, they have a milder form of the condition, called subclinical hypothyroidism. In the late 1980s, I became frustrated after the test results of many of my patients with multiple symptoms of hypothyroidism kept coming back normal. This can't be right, I thought. I decided to perform a thyroid-releasing hormone.

To summarize, if you have hypothyroidism, it can have adverse effects on your mental conditions, which can lead you to sink further into depression. There are three types of thyroid-releasing hormones - the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (T4), and free triiodothyronine (TJ). The standard thyroid hormone test, which measures just TSH, is not always sufficient, since TSH levels can be normal even when the thyroid is underactive.

Bank Failures Frighten Senior Citizens

The recent bank turmoil, the stock market plunge and escalating home foreclosures have brought about a feeling of deja vu for many Americans that lived through the Great Depression. Some seniors are even pulling money out of banks, shopping for discounts and warning younger relatives about darker days that may lie ahead.

Although, there are no hard figures available, banking officials say more senior citizens are asking to withdraw their savings. Sales of safes are up as much as 50 percent in just the past three weeks at SentrySafe, the nation's top safe manufacturer.

At the beginning of the Depression the federal government was not guarantying bank deposits, so many people in their 80's and 90's recall withdrawing money - or arriving too late only to find out that their savings had evaporated.

That is unlikely to happen today because FDIC insurance covers most individual bank accounts up to $250,000. But for many older seniors that assurance can be a hard sell. Robert Binstock, a Case Western Reserve University professor of aging, health and society, says "If you have lived through the Great Depression, you believe it can happen again. This all evokes the era of bank failures in the Depression, and they think burying money in a glass jar is a safer bet. "

The collapse of some banks and the forced sale of others has contributed to today's financial crisis, even though it is a far cry from the thousands of bank closures during the Depression.

During the three months that ended June 30, 2008, the latest period for which data are available, domestic bank deposits fell by nearly $40 Billion, according to the Federal Reserve. They now stand at about $7 Trillion.

Some people are so shaken by the negative economic news that nothing but cash will do. A 64 year old Connecticut resident withdrew thousands of dollars in cash from his bank a couple of weeks ago. He said his late great uncle used to tell him stories from the Great Depression and warned him to watch out for a crash.

He said, "I think it's a smart thing to do. I'm afraid there's going to be either a bank shut-down or a bank holiday. If it doesn't get that bad, then fine, I go put the money back in the bank. If it does, at least I'm somewhat prepared."

Some People See Things Differently

Not everyone agrees with stashing cash. Michael Spivey, a professor of finance at Clemson University, said that having lots of cash on hand makes seniors more vulnerable to theft, and the FDIC does not insure cash that is lost, stolen or damaged in someone's home.

Other senior citizens are taking the current financial crisis in stride. As one 86 year old Florida resident said, "Taking your deposits out in cash is the worst thing you can do because that will make the banks fail by causing a run on the bank. You just have to trust the system. It's not something that I lay awake at night and worry about."

How to Cope With Infertility

It shouldn't be surprising that if you are experiencing infertility, that depression may well accompany it. The medical community usually focuses on the more physical aspects of infertility, and they don't always take into account the emotions that you feel during the process. There is actually a correlation between the success of infertility treatments and the positive emotional state of the participants.

Studies have shown that over fifty percent of patients who work within a body and mind therapy will get pregnant within about six months, as compared to only twenty percent in the control group of the studies. Women who become depressed because they are infertile will have a lower success rate with treatments for infertility. If the depression is treated, you may stand a greater chance of a successful pregnancy.

The type of depression that is associated with infertility is different than what might be called typical depression. Psychologists who counsel couples who are experiencing infertility feel that depression of this sort is caused by various combating emotions, including grief, anger, and jealousy as well as sadness.

Jealousy may be the most painful part of infertility depression, since it isn't an emotion that is socially acceptable. You may also feel guilty, for depriving your spouse of the chance to have a child. In addition, you may feel that you have let your parents down, if they are waiting for grandchildren. There is also a measure of obsession in this type of depression. Many women simply cannot stop thinking about their infertility, and they even feel it in their dreams.

Depression is now believed to be a real part of infertility treatments. The reason for this could be that every month you will be reminded that you have failed to become pregnant, yet again. You may experience many emotions, from loneliness, to issues with children, and on to occasional faith crises. Faith may help in some ways, but in other ways, it can make it more difficult, too, since you may well feel that God does not wish for you to have a baby. This can be quite a struggle.

Even if your husband is supportive of you, you may still feel that he doesn't understand what you are truly going through. Men will not usually react the same way to the anxiety and stress of fertility treatments as women will. They don't deal as much with it on a day-to-day basis like the woman usually does. Your monthly menstrual period may also add to your sense of sadness. Men just want the problem fixed, but women can't put this aside like men can, to concentrate on other things.

Infertility can test a relationship, since it may affect many aspects of your life. Once you are undergoing fertility treatments, you are with it every day. There may be injections to be done, and you can't drink or smoke. This can cause couples to become distant and isolated, and this will make your depression even worse. Seek out a counselor who has experience in fertility depression, so that you can head into or through fertility treatments with a more positive attitude.

Depression: Zyban, Wellbutrin

Both Zyban and Wellbutrin are brand name prescription drugs that contain the same active ingredient, which is Bupropion. Bupropion can be used both as an antidepressant, and as an aid to giving up smoking.

As an antidepressant, it is sold under the brand names Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR and Wellbutrin XL. It is used to treat major depression and also seasonal affective disorder or SAD as well as some other conditions. No one really understands exactly how it works, but its beneficial effects are due to its ability to inhibit the reuptake of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, and to a much lesser extent, serotonin, which results in an increase of these chemicals in the brain. These chemicals have an impact on our moods and so by increasing the levels of these important neurotransmitters, it is possible to alleviate the symptoms of depression.

As a smoking cessation aid under the brand name Zyban, it appears to work by reducing nicotine cravings and the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. It also helps to prevent the unwanted weight gain which often accompanies stopping smoking. One thing to remember when taking Zyban is that it is important to take it earlier in the day to help prevent insomnia at night and if two doses are taken one must be taken eight hours after the first so the first one should be taken on waking.

As with all medications there are certain factors to be considered before taking Bupropion, particularly any potential side effects and contraindications, which can have an impact on whether it is an appropriate treatment for you or not.

Bupropion

If you are prescribed Wellbutrin or Zyban it is essential that you tell your doctor about any other medications that you are taking as there are a number of other drugs and substances that can interact with Bupropion and this includes prescription drugs, herbal remedies, vitamins and over the counter preparations like cough medicines etc.

You should also tell your doctor if you drink a lot of alcohol, coffee or other drinks containing caffeine, if you smoke or use illegal drugs, if you are taking sedatives, or MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), or any other drug containing Bupropion, and if you suffer from any medical complaint. In particular your doctor should be fully aware if you suffer or have ever suffered from any of the following conditions as Bupropion may not be suitable or may only be advisable at a reduced dose:

o Epilepsy

o Eating disorders

o Cerebral tumours

o Kidney failure

o Liver failure

o Alcoholism

o A head injury or trauma

o Insomnia

o An allergic reaction to Bupropion

o Diabetes

o Suicidal thoughts

o Tourettes syndrome

o Heart disease

You should also inform your doctor if you are currently pregnant or are trying to conceive or if you are breastfeeding or if you are due to undergo surgery or any other treatment in the near future.

Side effects

Some side effects are more common than others and there are some that are more serious than others. Side effects associated with Bupropion can include:

o Dry mouth

o Changes in taste

o Insomnia

o Headache

o Constipation

o Nausea

o Tremor

o Agitation

o Dizziness

o Increased sweating

o Weight loss

o Mania, hallucinations

o Seizures

o Irritability

o Depression

o Anxiety

o Irregular heartbeat or palpitations

o Chest pain

o Abdominal pain

o Rash and eczema, hives

o Raised blood pressure

o Difficulty breathing or wheezing

o Confusion

o Blurred vision

o Fatigue

o Loss of interest in sex

o Swelling of face, tongue and throat

You should tell your doctor immediately if you experience any dramatic changes in mood or behaviour, particularly if you feel depressed or have suicidal thoughts and if you are feeling overly agitated, hostile, anxious or hyperactive, and if you are having any trouble sleeping.

You should also seek urgent medical attention if you have trouble breathing, if your face, tongue and throat start to swell, if you have a convulsion, if you experience rapid or irregular heartbeats or if you develop hives or severe skin eruptions.

Other important points

Both Zyban and Wellbutrin should be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. This means you mustn't increase or decrease your dose unless your doctor tells you to; in particular, don't suddenly stop taking the medication as this can have serious side effects. If you happen to forget to take one, take it as soon as you remember again unless it is nearly time for you to take the next dose, if this is the case then just take the next dose as normal, and don't bother taking the one you forgot.

It is important to note that drinking a lot of alcohol and taking some other medications once you begin to take Bupropion can increase the risk of seizures and other side effects, as can starting or indeed abruptly stopping alcohol, and any other medications, including stopping to take Bupropion, so it isn't advisable to make any changes whatsoever without first seeking medical advice.

Critical Facts About Autism - Grandparent Is Your Grandchild at Risk?

Autism is a word that brings much sadness to a parent when told that their child presents with the symptoms.

Grandparents please be on the lookout for symptoms. Especially if you by chance are a "nanny" to your grandchild like so many grandmothers and even grandfathers are these days.

In the profession I was in, I encountered cases of autism in children. In the beginning it was a rare issue concerning childhood disabilities. By the time I left the profession 38 years later, autism cases were a regular issue. I began to wonder throughout the years on the job "what was going on?" It seemed like an epidemic!

I later discovered that other conditions had been added to the mix and called "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) which is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior" even mental retardation is included.

The latest statistics show that 1 in 88 to 1 in 110 children have been diagnosed with Autism.

But it appears that too many conditions were added to the autism category. There is a possibility that it will be modified.

Apparently medical studies think that the number is too high and plan to re-asses the diagnosis.

My friend has a niece who was five years of age when she became autistic. Before the diagnosis, she was happy, bright and social. Then practically overnight she changed!

I found out that this is rare but cases have been found where a child suddenly deteriorates between the ages of 3 to 10 years and show marked autistic behaviors.

After seeing the doctor it was determined that she was autistic, cause, unknown.

How shocking and befuddling was that? No explanation could be given as to why or how this occurred.

Autism appears to be a genetic brain disease. I heard that pregnant women can now know if their baby is at risk.

It was also stated that women avoid taking Valproic acid (a chemical compound and an acid that has found clinical use as an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug, primarily in the treatment of epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and, less commonly, major depression. It is also used to treat migraine headaches and schizophrenia) or Thalidomide. I thought this was banned? Found out that research is ongoing in its use to treat cancers and autoimmune conditions, although its use is controversial.

Here is a tidbit of information regarding a suspected cause of autism.

SCIENTIFIC PROOF: MILK CAUSES AUTISM & ADD

Florida researcher, Robert Cade, M.D., and his colleagues have identified a milk protein, casomorphin, as the probable cause of attention deficit disorder and autism. They found Beta-casomorphin-7 in high concentrations in the blood and urine of patients with either schizophrenia or autism.

Visit - notmilk.com click on Autism for the full report. This gives one cause to ponder.

How do you know or suspect if your child could be autistic? According to the CDC, you can begin to notice as early as nine months of age. The CDC has a list of markers that present at specific ages of a child that are warning signs and for you to present to your child's doctor.

How is this illness treated? There is no magical pill. Treatment varies depending on the category of autism that the child fits into. And of course like many of our modern diseases, there is no cure.

General Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability

I am not a pediatrician. You must know that everything I say is simply my opinion. If you do anything I recommend without the supervision of a licensed medical doctor, you do so at your own risk.

I present this information for educational purposes only. I am not making an attempt to prescribe any medical treatment as under the laws of the United States only a licensed medical doctor, (an MD) can do so.

Again, it is for educational purposes only it is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from research and experience of the author. No guarantees are given in any form by the author. And you and only you are responsible if you choose to do anything based on what you read.

This content cannot be relied upon as preventive, cure, or treatment for any disease or medical condition. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU CONSULT WITH A LICENSED MEDICAL DOCTOR OR PHYSICIAN BEFORE ACTING UPON ANY RECOMMENDATION THAT IS MADE IN THIS ARTICLE OR WEBSITE.

Combat Depression To Save Your Marriage

Depression has many implications and it is one of the silent "killer" of marriage. Many would have thought of infidelity as the chief reason for divorces but it never occurred to many that it could be depression in one or both of the spouses. In order to save your marriage from depression, there are a few steps that you can take.

The first step is to recognise the signs of depression when it happens. There is no one definitive definition. It has been variously describes as a sort of feeling where people are sad or feel empty and apathetic towards everything in their life.

Below is a list of some common signs that may imply depression

1. Don't feel like living anymore. Life seems to be meaningless and cannot find any joy in anything.

2. Lose appetite or eat a lot.

3. Cannot sleep or sleep a lot

4. Not interested in daily activities and previous hobbies. This include work, family, sex, shopping.

5. Very moody and easily upset and angry. Have very low tolerance level.

6. Can't focus on what you are doing.

7. Feeling lethargic and easily tired regardless of how small the task is at hand.

Depression doesn't mean the end of everything. You can help yourself and those who have it. If you found the above signs, one way or another it affects your marriage. Now is the time to act to save your marriage (and also yourself or your spouse) before it gets any worse.

Seek Help

If you or your spouse has some of the signs and it is prolonged, it is better to ask for help from a qualified person. This is important as you will know whether your suspicion is true or there are other medical issues that are causing this. At times it takes the spouse to help arrange things as the person who is depressed may be too caught up in their feelings to even feel like seeking for help.

Medicine

For those who are seriously affected by medical doctor or psychologist to be depressed, taking antidepressents can help. This have to be prescribed by the doctor. Ask about the pros and cons of the antidepressants and make the appropriate decision. When it is given, it is critical to follow the dosage and timing. Medication does not cure depression, they only provide some relief. As such it has to be applied together with other methods.

Manage Stress

Stress is one of the main causes of depression. Unfortunately society move so fast today. It is a boon and a curse as well. Just a few decades ago, there is no internet and no mobile phones. Inconvenient? Maybe, but people have more time for themselves. Now we are constantly bombarded and there is no reason not to receive office calls even after work.

Get some time off by practising relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, time just to be quiet like walking in the park or just sitting by the beach and watching the waves. Allocate at least 15 minutes per day for this or even more if time permits.

Another good way is to exercise regularly. Study has shown that exercise will help your body to release a hormone call serotonin. This hormone is in charge of our moods. When you exercise, serotonin is secreted by the body and helps to boost your spirit.

Socialize and meet up with your friends or loved ones on regular basis. Having social support is very important for us. I always feel so much better after talking about my problems with my best friend, even though she doesn't do anything much and just listen and nod. Telling others help release all the pent up emotions.

Depression Symptoms Varies Across Age Groups

Depression symptoms can show up in every person on the planet. No matter what sex or culture a person comes from they can still suffer from a depressive disorder. Even medical professionals must remember that depression affects everyone differently.

For example, a woman who has just had a child will display depression differently than an elderly man. If one keeps these differences in mind, than the symptoms may become easier to spot.

One group of people who will display various depression symptoms are teens. Teen depression is a serious illness that can lead to suicide if not caught and treated correctly.

Parents need to be fully aware of how a teenager displays their depression. A child may seem overly hostile or complain of unexplained aches and pains such as a continuous headache or a stomach ache.

If the child is taken to the doctor and nothing can be found physically wrong, a parent must then make sure that the doctor does a thorough mental examination. Parents must stay involved in a child's life to ensure that depression stays at bay.

One age group that is growing in today's world and who more frequently are experiencing depression symptoms are the elderly. As adults grow older, they usually have a difficult time coping with what is happening around them.

As they age they may be losing loved ones, dealing with limited independence, and increasing health problems. One thing to remember is that this illness is not the norm when it comes to aging. Complaints about their physical health will usually take precedence over their mental health issues, and this can lead to depression symptoms going unnoticed.

If a person is having continuous poor health, then a doctor must be seen. In the elderly especially, early diagnosis and treatment are very important to avoid suicide.

When looking at the various depression symptoms, another important factor to take into account is whether the patient is a male or a female. Women are twice as more likely to experience such illness than men. Women will experience symptoms such as feelings of guilt, excessive sleeping, overeating, and weight gain.

Men on the other had have a harder time expressing their emotional issues, so their symptoms will be completely different than women. Men will complain about fatigue, loss of interest in work or hobbies, and they may feel an increase in anger which can lead to violence. Because of the different symptoms, the treatment for this mental illness varies for the sexes.

By knowing the depression symptoms that different groups of people display, family and medical professionals can better deal with the depressive disorder. Depression is an illness that is very treatable if only it is caught in time.

If a person who is afflicted with the disease does not seek help, then suicide can be the devastating outcome. Those with depression do not have to suffer in silence.

Depression Test - Is There A Reliable One?

Each year, millions of people are affected by depression at one point or even several points during their lives, often with detrimental effects. Depression is a psychological disorder that is so common in our lives that it has been named the common cold of mental illness. According to estimates from the National Institute of Mental Health, about 10% of the U.S. population is suffering from a certain depression disorder at any particular time. Taking a depression test is a sure way of not only getting to know whether you are suffering from depression, but also dealing with the condition.

Surprisingly, as much as the rate of people getting affected by depression is high, the cure rate for the psychological disorder is similarly high. There are various effective interventions to help affected people regain control of their lives. However, the tragic news is that a very significant number of individuals who are suffering from the condition are not aware that they are suffering from depression.

In fact majority of the affected people do not go for diagnosis as well as seek diagnosis. In addition, most people do not know where to begin, and a self-test is one of the simple ways you can get a depression diagnosis for the condition without going to your doctor. A depression test is an effective tool which may be used to help in determining if you have symptoms of depression, and eventually seek help. However, it is important to take note of the fact that only a qualified and licensed mental health professional is able to undertake a depression diagnosis.

There are several types of depression, and the psychological disorder is classified in several ways, and there are several tests that are conducted to diagnose each type. Most tests for depression are designed to diagnose cases such as major depression, dysthymia or otherwise known as chronic depression, bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, and cyclothymia or otherwise known as mild bipolar disorder, as well as SAD or seasonal affective disorder.

Each one of these depressive disorders presents a variety of symptoms and each one of them represents a specific diagnostic procedure. In order for you to gain a more in-depth insight into each of the different types of depression, you need to take one test and examine the results. It is also worthwhile to note that there are other varieties of depression do not have a particular test for diagnosing the condition.

To sum it up, it is a widely-known fact that at a certain moment in our lives, every person gets to a point where they feel that they are depressed or in the dumps. However, if you feel that life is constantly making you feel that you are down, and the lows make you feel as if you cannot function normally, then you may be suffering from a certain form of depression. In order to establish whether the emotional slumps you are experiencing are serious, you need to take a depression test. The test is not only designed to establish whether you are currently suffering from depression, but also designed to determine if you may be at risk of experiencing depression.

How to Benefit From Natural Treatment for Depression

A great deal of focus and attention is given to severe clinical depression. This is understandable, and even necessary, because severe depression is a disease that needs more recognition and resources for people needing help to heal.

However, this leads to a situation where milder forms of depression are overlooked, or seen as not being important.

Mild depression can take a variety of forms, and affects far more people then severe forms of depression. People suffering from mild depression will not have the extreme problems associated with severe depression - they will be able to take care of themselves, keep up with their work, and will not be suicidal.

Instead, mild depression leaves people feeling perpetually tired. Everything just takes a bit extra effort. There is no enthusiasm, or excitement for things. Someone who is usually an optimist might slowly become pessimistic, always expecting the worst of everything.

Many people do not realize that mild depression needs to be treated just as much as severe depression. Clinical depression almost never heals without treatment, and if left untreated, mild depression can become severe depression. Even if it doesn't, no one should have to live with depression impacting their lives when they don't have to.

And they don't. No one does. There is a natural treatment for depression that can help people heal from both severe and mild forms of depression - homeopathy.

Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine that is completely natural, and without any side effects. A trained homeopath can work with a person suffering from depression to determine a personalized natural treatment for depression which will begin to work almost immediately.

As a holistic treatment, homeopathy affects the mind as well as the body, and heals the root causes of depression. In time, a person suffering from depression can heal completely, so they no longer need any kind of treatment.

If you or someone you know is suffering from mild depression, it's time to take action. Even mild depression is a life altering illness that can cause a great deal of suffering over time. Just because it isn't severe depression does not mean it can be pushed aside, or will get better without care. Especially when there is a natural treatment for depression available which can help you heal completely.

Take care of yourself, and your health. Learn about homeopathy as a natural treatment for depression, so you can feel better now.

Natural Products For Depression - What They Can Do For You and How to Find a Good One

Natural products for depression are gaining more popularity around the world as people turn away from drugs with all their complications and side effects and seek out healthy alternatives. In this article, you'll learn what a good supplement can do for you and how to find one that will work the first time, plus some tips for enhancing its effects.

If you have been using antidepressants without success or if you're concerned about using drugs with all their side effects, you are right to be concerned. Due to all the problems associated with taking prescription drugs (which do not heal depression anyway, but just suppress the symptoms), there is a movement around the world to treat depression naturally.
And after all, this is nothing new: medicinal plants have been used to lift people from the depressed state for centuries.

The fact that drugs are the new kids on the block when compared with the use of medicinal herbs should give you great confidence in natural products for depression. Not only have these formulations stood the test of time and been passed from generation to generation, they have also proven effective in scientific studies. Better still, they are not addictive in any way.

Of course, there are a lot of natural remedies out there and truth be told, some formulations are more effective than others. Since you want to find the right remedy the first time around, here's what to look for in a good one. First of all, look for ingredients such as St. John's Wort and Passion flower in a formulation that delivers the proper dose of these herbs each time for maximum effectiveness.

You have probably heard of St. John's Wort which has been recommended for depression for centuries. However, you may not have heard of Passion Flower which actually makes St. John's Wort more effective. Rather than taking these herbs separately, take them together in a proven natural products for depression formulation that allows them to work synergistically. You will start to feel your mood lift in about three weeks, so be patient and allow the remedy the time to do its work.

When you start to feel better, you will be motivated to improve other areas of life that will support the action of the supplement. For instance, eating healthy, whole foods, drinking lots of water and doing moderate exercise are excellent choices.

Start small, so you won't feel overwhelmed. With regard to diet, add fresh whole foods into your eating plan a little bit at a time. Drink a full glass of water upon arising to get an extra glass in every day. With exercise, you can start by dancing around the house to your favorite tunes or by walking your dog outside. Small steps can create big rewards in terms of lifting your spirits.

So there you have it: all you need to know to get started taking natural products for depression, so you can feel better and get your life back.

How to Develop Positive Thinking

It is only in a calm and peaceful mind that powerful thoughts and positive ideas can take root. The attainment of inner peace is possible through the practices of emptying the mind, and replacing the feelings of fears, hate, insecurities, regrets, guilt with creative and healthy thoughts. You should focus not just upon mind but also also on speech. Norman Vincent Peale, author of the bestseller, The Power of Positive Thinking says, "Watch your manner of speech if you wish to develop a peaceful state of mind... It is important to eliminate from conversations all negative ideas, for they tend to produce tension and annoyance inwardly" (p. 27). One must also find some time alone in quiet contemplation thinking about nothing. Picture your mind as a smooth pond and let there be no ripples. Peale quotes Abraham Lincoln, "People were just about as happy as they made their minds up to be" (p. 70) to prove that happiness is a choice. You get what you choose. Happiness is a matter of habit. It is the state you decide to be in. One should speak to one's unconscious mind. It is a powerful entity that can transform mental habits and attitudes toward positive direction, provided we are firm and persist in our endeavor. Peale goes on to show how we can rid of our negative personal traits and inculcate positive virtues through positive thinking. The methods and strategies taught by Peale to culture positive thoughts are practical steps that can be adopted by any one to solve problems, get rid of anger and other negative emotions, and drain away all your malice, and attain the ultimate self-improvement.

The techniques and examples offered by Norman Vincent Peale is nothing new. We find them as inherent doctrines in some of the Eastern religions. The other self-help books, too, offer more or less the same prescription. We might briefly formulate Peale's thesis in the following words: Mind is a powerful entity. It determines your characters and habits that ultimately decide success or failure for you. But mind is not independent of you. It absorbs what you might feed it with. Feed it with the negative thoughts of doubts, fear and failure, and you might find these mind-directed traits in you. Feed it with the positive thoughts and you will discover these traits in you. When you are armed with this understanding, you can effectively empower yourself by directing, guiding and suggesting the thoughts of confidence, success, achievements to your mind.

It is quite true that positive thinking is universally acknowledged going a long way in personal improvement and success, but we cannot claim that it can be a universal panacea to all human evils. Human beings inherit certain traits - positive and negative - as a matter of genetic determinism. Some of us are short tempered and the others are relatively quiet. You might ask how his methods and examples even when applied practically change those gene-led traits. Lombroso held that criminal traits are genetically determined and a criminal cannot help committing crimes in the same manner as a lame person cannot help limping. Yet, in a population aberrant genes are insignificantly small in number so that most of us can hope to transform the way we think, speak and behave to learn better and more positive ideas. Much of what we understand by subconscious and unconscious influences are still in the realm of scientific investigation so that the manner and extent of their influences are not quite clear but we have begun to understand that what ever we think eventually sinks down to the level of subconscious and continue to impact the conscious thought and behavior. Positive thoughts and affirmations will therefore feed our subconscious mind with positive ideas which in turn propel us toward a growth trajectory.

While there is broad understanding on the powers of positive thinking and there are many theories derived from them, differences remain on the manner of their application. For instance no one can guide you on for how many hours should your mind is fed with positive thoughts or positive affirmations to bring about a certain result. Yet isn't it enough to know that we must continually strive to think positive and learn to be an optimist.

It is true that we can bring about a more harmonious society when for instance, employers and employees or husbands and wives begin doing positive affirmations. This is of course not to deny that we can't stop retrenchments or we can't stop divorces among husbands and wives from taking place with positive affirmations. It seems unlikely. While positive affirmations by husbands and wives will make them positive in their outlook, it will not melt away the structural and social issues that may be the underlying cause of a problem. Isn't it enough that we can make the differences sweet and appealing.

Nonetheless, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that techniques like visualizations and suggestions add to your level of confidence. Successful players have reported that they mentally picture themselves winning. Successful orators have reported making use of auto-suggestions to get over the fear of facing audience. It is plain and logical. Every conscious and unconscious act that we do follows the mental command. Success to a large extent depends on the power of this command. If someone is hesitant and lacks confidence before doing a certain action, he/she will probably not do it. The same individual after discovering the power of positive thinking will eventually overcome the hurdle that had been keeping success at a bay.

When Do You Stop Trying to Get Pregnant And Live With The Pain?

This is a very personal question with a very personal answer. At risk of taking the easy way out, there is no right or wrong time to accept that you are unlikely, or unable, to ever get pregnant. Each individual or couple will make this decision for themselves. Before you decide to accept it, though, make sure you discuss the matter with a fertility specialist in your area. This should be your first stop if you're struggling to get pregnant for six months to a year. The specialist will conduct tests and determine what could be causing your struggles. Of course, remember that as women enter their forties their chances of conception decline.

As you struggle to get pregnant, there will be some people in your life who encourage you to keep trying and never stop hoping. Others are going to tell you to accept that you will not get pregnant. So who do you listen to? Well, your doctor, for one. But also remember that while you may trust the opinion of some people in your life, it is ultimately your decision. If you decide that you can accept not getting pregnant, then walking away from treatment and procedures may be easier. In some cases, it's going to be difficult to accept it, but some come to the realization that they have to.

Months or even years of fertility treatment can wear on a person. Not only are some of the procedures invasive and require a large financial commitment, the emotional toll can be unbearable for some who face negative pregnancy test after negative pregnancy test. It's enough to send some into a depression. The stress and anxiety may even further inhibit your fertility, making it more difficult to become pregnant.

If you decide that it's time to accept that you are unlikely to ever become pregnant, adoption may be an option. Talk with your fertility specialist about your decision, and look into adoption services to see if you qualify. Adopting can be very rewarding, as not only will you get the opportunity to become parents, you will help a child in need. Some also look into surrogacy in which another individual carries a child for you. The embryo is created using donor sperm and eggs, or those of you and your partner. For some, they get pregnant naturally after giving up fertility treatment, perhaps because they relieve themselves of the stress involved with the process.